Srinagar: Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has announced his resignation from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), ending his 24-year association with the party. The Srinagar Lok Sabha MP accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the party leadership of betraying the people of Kashmir by failing to act on key political and public issues.

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Ruhullah made the announcement at a public gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam on the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi. Declaring that he was breaking away from the party, he said, “From 2:40 pm today, I am no longer part of the JKNC.”

His departure follows growing differences with the party leadership over its approach to the political demands of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

Why did Ruhullah quit the National Conference?

In a four-page letter explaining his decision, Ruhullah accused the National Conference of abandoning the political commitments it had made before the 2024 Assembly elections.

He said he had supported the party because its leadership had assured him that it would lead efforts to restore the rights and constitutional protections of Jammu and Kashmir. However, he alleged that the party changed its position after winning the elections.

Ruhullah said the people had given the National Conference a significant mandate in 2024, driven by their anger and expectations over the political situation in the region. He accused the leadership of shifting its focus towards running the government instead of pursuing the larger political demands raised during the election campaign.

He described the party's approach as a betrayal of public expectations, arguing that the restoration of statehood alone was not enough to address the region's political concerns.

Omar Abdullah accused of ignoring public grievances

Ruhullah also criticised Omar Abdullah over what he described as a lack of intervention on issues affecting different sections of society.

He referred to the demands of daily wagers, students and young people facing incarceration, alleging that the Chief Minister had failed to respond adequately despite repeated appeals.

He further claimed that Omar Abdullah had approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek approval for a file relating to his adviser instead of raising the concerns of incarcerated young people.

Taking aim at the Chief Minister's priorities, Ruhullah also referred to the National Conference's election promises, including 200 units of free electricity. He accused the leadership of moving away from the commitments made to voters.

Article 370, reservation and political prisoners among key differences

Ruhullah identified several issues behind his growing differences with the National Conference leadership. These included the restoration of Article 370, protection of Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights, rationalisation of the reservation policy and the release of political prisoners.

He described the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A in 2019 as an assault on the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to his resignation letter, he had expected the National Conference to lead a sustained political movement for the restoration of those rights. However, he alleged that the party had stepped back from that responsibility after securing an electoral victory.

Ruhullah maintained that his decision was based on ideological differences and unfulfilled political commitments rather than personal disappointment over not receiving a government position.

Plans to build a youth-led political platform

After announcing his exit, Ruhullah indicated that he wanted to create a platform involving young people committed to addressing the challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources close to the MP said he had no immediate plans to join another political party. He also reportedly indicated that he did not intend to destabilise the Omar Abdullah-led government.

At the public gathering, he urged parents to encourage young people to participate in efforts to bring about social and political change.

Ruhullah, 48, is a Shia cleric from Budgam and the son of Aga Syed Mehdi Mustafa, a prominent religious and political leader who was killed in a militant attack in November 2000.

What Ruhullah's exit means for the National Conference

Ruhullah's departure highlights internal differences within the National Conference over how the party should pursue Jammu and Kashmir's political demands after the 2019 constitutional changes.

The party returned to power in the Union Territory following the 2024 Assembly elections, with demands for the restoration of statehood and constitutional rights forming an important part of the political debate. However, Ruhullah's criticism reflects dissatisfaction among sections of its supporters over what they see as a gap between election promises and the government's approach after taking office.

His emphasis on Article 370, reservation rationalisation and political prisoners also indicates that these issues remain central to political mobilisation in the region.

The immediate political impact will depend on whether Ruhullah builds an independent platform, attracts support from young people and other political groups, or eventually aligns with another political formation.

His resignation from the party and Parliament, as reported, also raises questions about the future of the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. A by-election would depend on the formal acceptance of his parliamentary resignation by the Lok Sabha Speaker.

For the National Conference, the challenge is not limited to losing a prominent MP. Ruhullah's criticism comes from within the party's own political ranks and directly questions its commitment to the expectations on which it sought votes in 2024.